Category Archives: Restaurant

Portuguese sausage scramble – Rebel Kitchen

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Portuguese sausage scramble - Rebel Kitchen
Eggs, potato, onion, cheese. Served with wheat toast. $7.85
Rebel Kitchen, Kealakekua HI

This was a random restaurant that we stopped at on our way to kayak in Kealakekua Bay. I’m glad we did because the service was fabulous and the food was simple and delicous. My scramble had SO much flavor! And paired with Kona coffee, I couldn’t have asked for a better way to start the morning.

Kona coffee - Rebel Kitchen
100% Kona coffee. $2.50

Captain Cook Monument
Captain Cook Monument, Kealakekua Bay. We had a great time kayaking to this thing and the snorkeling in front was amazing!

Seared foie gras nigiri sushi – Sansei Seafood Restaurant

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Seared foie gras nigiri sushi - Sansei Seafood Restaurant
Lightly seared and served with caramelized sweet onions and ripe mango and rich unagi glaze drizzle. $18.95
Sansei Seafood Restaurant, Waikoloa HI

Seared foie gras nigiri sushi - Sansei Seafood Restaurant
Omg, I may go to hell for eating this but since California has banned foie gras, I needed a quick foie fix! When I saw it on the Sansei menu, I had to order it – so sue me! Lol. And it was delicious!!! I’ve never had foie gras as nigiri before, but it worked. All the extra components were also tasty.

Chopsticks - Sansei Seafood Restaurant
Chopsticks.

Pololu Valley
Pololu Valley.

Calamari – Don the Beachcomber

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Calamari - Don the Beachcomber
Lightly seasoned and breaded, served with zesty chipotle remoulade and Don’s citrus cocktail sauce. $12.95
Don the Beachcomber, Kailua-Kona HI

I enjoyed these! They were pretty tender and not overly fried. I also liked that they weren’t covered in a thick shell of breading and that they included plenty of tentacle pieces. The sauce were also creative and tasty! I’m kinda bored of the typical citrus aioli that’s usually served with fried calamari.

Stacked rocks, Kailua Bay
Stacked rocks, Kailua Bay.

Korean steak street tacos – Duke’s Waikiki

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Korean steak street tacos - Duke's Waikiki
Kochujan marinated steak, salsa verde, lettuce, onions, cilantro, flour tortillas. $12.95
Duke’s Waikiki, Honolulu HI

These tacos had a lot of flavor, but they were definitely on the salty side. Perhaps the steak was over-marinated or something. I loved the pickled side though!

Royal Garden Waikiki
Laying out on the back lawn of the Royal Garden Waikiki.

Kona fish tacos – Huggo’s on the Rocks

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Kona fish tacos - Huggo's on the Rocks
Blackened mahi mahi, chipotle aioli, mango salsa fresca, roasted tomatillo sauce. Served with Manini green salad. $15.95
Huggo’s on the Rocks, Kailua-Kona HI

Mmm, these were really good and I loved all the sauces and salsa on top. The tortillas were also nicely grilled and warm. I thought it was cute that they served the plates in bamboo steam trays.

Western Hawaii
Western side of Hawaii along Queen Kaahumanu Highway.

Waipi’o stack breakfast – Island Lava Java

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Waipi'o stack breakfast - Island Lava Java
Two eggs over easy, stacked on house-made wheat toast with applewood smoked bacon, fresh avocado, tomato, arugula and chipotle aioli. Served with a cup of fresh fruit. $11.95
Island Lava Java, Kailua-Kona HI

This was SO nommy! The bacon was perfect and I loved the chipotle aioli. Even their homemade wheat bread was tasty. I wish the eggs were less fried (they were advertised as over easy) because I love a super-runny yolk but that’s only a minor criticism. Noms!

Waipi'o Valley
We actually drove to Waipio Valley on the north side of the Big Island and it was beautiful and impressive! Although the breakfast stack was delicious, I think the Valley takes the cake. 😉

Waimea back ribs – Don the Beachcomber

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Waimea back ribs - Don the Beachcomber
Baby backs coated in house rub, flame broiled and baked with honey mango BBQ glaze. Happy hour $9.95
Don the Beachcomber, Kailua-Kona HI

I’m a huge fan of BBQ ribs! These babybacks tasted good but not amazing! I wish they were a little more tender, but since they were slathered in delicious BBQ sauce I didn’t mind too much, hehe.

Hulinee Palace gate
Decorative gate at the Hulihee Palace, Ali’i Drive.

Poke rolls – Duke’s Waikiki

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Poke rolls - Duke's Waikiki
Raw ahi, Maui onion, sauteed in rice paper. $12.95
Duke’s Waikiki, Honolulu HI

This starter wass billed as “Hawaii’s favorite pupu” on their menu. I don’t know about that. It tasted ok, but it was super greasy! Who knew it was actually deep fried? I assumed it was a fresh roll from the menu description, and because I don’t immediately think “fried” when poke comes to mind. Hmm, hand me another drink!

Hawaiian song and dance performance
Hawaiian song and dance performance, Waikiki Beach.

Cocktails – Huggo’s on the Rocks

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Huggo's Ali'i Mai Tai - Huggo's on the Rocks

Huggo’s Ali’i Mai Tai: 10 Cane rum, Lemon Hart 151, pineapple juice, exotic liqueurs with a Gosling’s dark rum float. $11
Huggo’s on the Rocks, Kailua-Kona HI

Vacation is relaxing outside, taking in some rays, and sipping on sweet, girly tropical drinks. Lol! I think we accomplished that in Hawaii. This mai tai was a little on the “too” sweet side, and the margarita was super weak and a bit bland. Oh well, can’t win em all…

Huggo's Famous Back Bar Margarita - Huggo's on the Rocks

Huggo’s Famous Back Bar Margarita: premium tequila, grand marnier, lemon and lime juices with a splash of orange juice. $11

Bird of paradise flowers
Bird of paradise flowers (Strelitzia reginae, Strelitziaceae), KOA airport.

Roasted veggie omelette – Island Lava Java

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Roasted veggie omelette - Island Lava Java
A generous whole-egg omelette filled with roasted veggies, Big Island goat cheese, macadamia nut pesto, avocado and parmesan cheese. Served with fresh fruit. $13.25
Island Lava Java, Kailua-Kona HI

Mmm, this omeltte was great and the ingredients were very tasty. I loved the macadamia nut pesto and the large portion. And orchid blossoms in your fruit are always a nice touch! 🙂

Iced Kona coffee - Island Lava Java

100% extra fancy Kona coffee, full city roast, over ice. $3.25

Local musician
We sat outside where they had a local musician serenading us with some Hawaiian flare. He was actually really good and we tipped him accordingly.

Don’s original mai tai – Don the Beachcomber

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Don's original mai tai - Don the Beachcomber

Old school is in session with this original preparation of what is now often modified. Don has many claims to fame but none as bold as this fine cocktail. Bacardi 8, orange curacao, Whaler’s dark rum, fresh lime and a few smuggler’s secrets make this 1933 classic a must. Happy hour $5.25
Don the Beachcomber, Kailua-Kona HI

Mmm, this tasted like a vacation! Don’s sit right on Kailua Bay so you get a perfect view of the sunset. Wish I was back there!

Sunset over Kailua Bay
Sunset over Kailua Bay from our table.

Crispy coconut crusted black tiger shrimp – Duke’s Waikiki

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Crispy coconut crusted black tiger shrimp - Duke's Waikiki
With spicy lilikoi sauce. $10.95
Duke’s Waikiki, Honolulu HI

This had good flavor, but it was a bit greasy – lame. The sauce was very subtle tasting. (lilikoi is Hawaiian passion fruit). Our bartender was super cool though so that made up for the mediocre food. 🙂

Place setting - Duke's Waikiki
Place setting.

Waterfall and alpinia

Waterfall and alpinia flowers (Zingiberaceae), Polynesian Cultural Center.